Ventura to tap into some sage advice

Manager will have Bell, Torborg, Nossek or Kusnyer around for counsel on some trips

March 28, 2012|By Mark Gonzales, Chicago Tribune reporter

GLENDALE, Ariz. — White Sox director of player development Buddy Bell, a former major league manager, will accompany the club on selected trips.

So will Jeff Torborg, who managed a young Sox team to 94 victories in 1990.

Even retired coaches Joe Nossek and Art Kusnyer are expected to surface at various cities the Sox visit.

But these aren't fallbacks in case the Sox struggle in the first year under manager Robin Ventura.

General manager Ken Williams is providing a sounding board to help Ventura accelerate in the nuances of managing.

"There's a support system here," Williams said. "People care about this man and want him to succeed, want the White Sox to succeed. That's very important to me."

Of more importance, Ventura gladly welcomes the help even though he is in the process of putting his own stamp on the team.

"I've known them for a long time and trust (them), Ventura said. "With different things I have to go through this year, I can talk to them and bounce stuff off them. I'm dealing with people I'm familiar with, which is easier.

Torborg, 70, Ventura's first manager with the Sox, said he was flattered to be invited to spring training earlier this month but didn't want to intrude on Ventura's methods.

"I didn't want to impose on how he did things," Torborg said from his Sarasota, Fla., home. "I didn't want to get in his way. He has to have his style. But when we had dinner the first night (in Glendale) and then when I rode in his golf cart for my first workout, I started feeling more comfortable.

"I can tell everyone is on the same page. It seemed very natural."

And comfortable. Torborg pointed out that pitching coach Don Cooper was mentored as a pitcher with the Yankees under Sammy Ellis — Torborg's pitching coach with the Sox.

Interestingly, Torborg wanted the Sox to acquire Bell as a player before his last season in 1989. But the veteran third baseman elected to sign with the Rangers to be closer with his family. Later that year, Ventura took over at third base for the Sox and embarked on a productive 16-year career.

All parties acknowledge there will be times when they won't be on the same page or have different thoughts, but Williams doesn't anticipate a clash of personalities.

"If there's any postgame dialogue, certain things will arise and Robin is a unique blend of a strong personality, like (assistant GM) Rick Hahn in a way, with humility and an inquisitive nature to where he factors in other people's opinions to ultimately form his own opinion. I can't ask for much more."

Said Ventura: "It's nice to have people as a sounding board and not sound crazy as to what you're thinking."